Aerosol can puncher

ABSTRACT

A cradle frame supports a horizontally disposed aerosol can. A curved plate is hingedly mounted to the cradle frame and attaches a punch thereon. After an aerosol can is placed on the cradle frame the plate is moved downwardly thereby driving the punch through the wall of the aerosol can which results in relatively slow venting of the gas in the can.

United States Patent Patton, Jr. et al.

14 1 July 25,1972

[54] AEROSOL CAN PUNCHER [72] Inventors: Frank J. Patton, Jr., Route 6Box 104, Frankfort, lnd. 46041; Danny J. Gardner, 2121 Suffolt Lane,Indianapolis, Ind. 46260 [22] Filed:

[21] Appl.No.: 25,076

April 2, 1970 s21 U.S.Cl. 0/10,:50/16 51 mm B67b7/24 [58] Fieldofselrcll..30/l0,l6,250,296,3l5,366;

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,296,696 1/1967 Kamla..30/ l 6 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordan Assistant Examiner-Gary L.Smith Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT Acradle frame supports a horizontally disposed aerosol can. A curvedplate is hingedly mounted to the cradle frame and attaches a punchthereon. After an aerosol can is placed on the cradle frame the plate ismoved downwardly thereby driving the punch through the wall of theaerosol can which results in relatively slow venting of the gas in thecan.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing figures PATENIEDJULZSIHR 3,678,578

Fran/r J. Pal/on, Jr. Danny J. Gardner ,8 m1 c.-. m' EMMA AEROSOL CANPUNCHER The present invention relates to a manual aerosol can puncher.

Often, when an individual wishes to dispose of an unused or partly usedaerosol can, he must manually expend the contents therein by depressingthe actuator. This is necessary because partly or wholly filled aerosolcans should not be incinerated. Disposal becomes a significantinconvenience to industrial users who must dispose of a large number ofpartly filled aerosol cans.

The present invention offers a simply constructed, reliable andinexpensive means of piercing the wall of an aerosol can thereby causingthe relatively slow release of the gas therein. The punch member in thepresent device is driven through the wall of the can by exerting footpressure on a depressor plate which attaches the punch member. After theaerosol can is sufficiently vented, it may be safely disposed of byincineration.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the invention.

, FIG. 3 is an end elevational view depicting the application of footpressure to the device and causing piercing of an aerosol can. I

Referring to the FIGS. and more particularly FIG. 2, a cradle frame orsupport is generally indicated by reference numeral that serves tohorizontally support an aerosol can during-a can piercing operation. Thecradle frame hingedly mounts a shield lid or depressor plate 12 having apunch member 14 attached thereto.

The cradle frame 10 has a cylindrical section 16 with outwardly turnedparallel spaced flanges 18 and 20 serving to stabilize the cradle frame,the flanges being substantially tangentially positioned with respect tothe wall of the cylindrical section 16. A slot 22 is centrally formedalong the edge common to the cylindrical section 16 and flange 20. Atabular projection 24 extends outwardly from a lateral edge of theshield lid 12 and is adapted to be positioned in the slot 22. A pin 26is passed under the edge connecting cylindrical section 16 and flange20. The pin becomes exposed along the length of slot 22 and thereforeforms a means for pivotally mounting the tabular projection 24. Thus,pin 26 serves as a hinge pin for connecting the shield lid 12 and thecradle frame 10.

Considering the structure of shield lid 12, the central body of the lidis seen to be in the form of a cylindrical section 28 having a radius ofcurvature somewhat larger than that of the cylindrical section 16. Byvirtue of this dimensional dif ference, the lateral edge 30 of lid 12becomes positioned in overlying relation with flange 18 of the cradleframe when the lid 12 is positioned downwardly over the cradle frame.Thus, edge 30 forms a handle for opening and closing the lid 12.

When the lid is in the closed position, a generally ellipticalcross-section characterizes the device: as seen in FIG. 1.

In operation of the device, lid 12 is opened and aerosol can 32 isplaced onto the cradle frame 10. The size of the present invention isdesigned to allow insertion of all aerosol cans of conventional size.After the can is positioned on the frame 10, the lid 12 is pivoteddownwardly until the punch member 14 rests against the wall of theaerosol can. Then, foot pressure is brought to bear against the shieldlid 12 thereby causing the driving piercing of the punch member 14through the can wall. Inasmuch as the punch member 14 is preferablytapered, the rate of venting can be controlled depending upon the extentof piercing. Instead of a punch member, a knife blade could be used toslit the can wall.

After a period of time, all the gas within the can will be expelled andthe lid 12 can be opened. Then, the can is simply removed and can beincinerated along with other industrial refuse.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An aerosol can puncher comprising cradle means for supporting a canand formed from a cylindrical section having integral outwardly turnedflanges positioned in parallel substantially tangential relation to thecylindrical section for stabilizing the cylindrical section, shieldingmeans connected to said cradle means to serve as a lid for :said cradlemeans, and punching means connected to the shielding means for piercingan aerosol can when the shielding means is displacing toward the can.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the shielding meanscomprises a cylindrical section hingedly mounted to said cradle meansand further wherein said punching means connected to the shielding meansis a punch member positioned in confronting relation to said cradlemeans.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical section of saidcradle means has a slot formed in one of the turned flanges, thecylindrical section of the shielding means having a tabular projectionpositioned in the slot, and a pin slidably received in the tabularprojection for rotatably mounting the shielding means to said cradlemeans.

4. An aerosol can puncher, comprising, in combination:

a. cradle means for supporting an aerosol can and including means forreceiving an aerosol can and extending longitudinally therewith, andmeans including parallel flanges extending from opposite sides of thereceiving means for stabilizing same;

b. shielding means connected to said cradle means for serving as a lidfor said cradle means; and

c. punching means connected to the shielding means for piercing anaerosol can when the shielding means is displaced toward the can.

1. An aerosol can puncher comprising cradle means for supporting a canand formed from a cylindrical section having integral outwardly turnedflanges positioned in parallel substantially tangential relation to thecylindrical section for stabilizing the cylindrical section, shieldingmeans connected to said cradle means to serve as a lid for said cradlemeans, and punching means connected to the shielding means for piercingan aerosol can when the shielding means is displacing toward the can. 2.The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the shielding means comprisesa cylindrical section hingedly mounted to said cradle means and furtherwherein said punching means connected to the shielding means is a punchmember positioned in confronting relation to said cradle means.
 3. Thestructure of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical section of said cradlemeans has a slot formed in one of the turned flanges, the cylindricalsection of the shielding means having a tabular projection positioned inthe slot, and a pin slidably received in the tabular projection forrotatably mounting the shielding means to said cradle means.
 4. Anaerosol can puncher, comprising, in combination: a. cradle means forsupporting an aerosol can and including means for receiving an aerosolcan and extending longitudinally therewith, and means including parallelflanges extending from opposite sides of the receiving means forstabilizing same; b. shielding means connected to said cradle means forserving as a lid for said cradle means; and c. punching means connectedto the shielding means for piercing an aerosol can when the shieldingmeans is displaced toward the can.